The Truth about Eating Disorders
Spreading compassion and awareness in Atlantic Canada about one of today's most prevalent and misunderstood illnesses.
Eating Disorder Not
Otherwise Specified
What is EDNOS?
"Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified" can mean a number of things... It can mean the individual suffers from Anorexia but still gets their period; It can mean they may still be an "average healthy weight" but be suffering Anorexia; It can mean the sufferer equally participates in some Anorexic as well as Bulimic behaviors.

*The label of EDNOS is often interpreted as indicating a less serious, dangerous or common illness - this is NOT TRUE. Far more people are diagnosed with EDNOS than with anorexia and bulimia combined, and the associated health risks are often just as serious for EDNOS.
In all meaningful ways, people with EDNOS are very similar to those with anorexia or bulimia, and are just as likely to require extensive, specialized, multidisciplinary treatment.*







What are the signs/symptoms?
Can be any combination of signs/symptoms seen in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. The following are some examples of how EDNOS presents:

- All criteria for anorexia nervosa met but menstruation is still occurring.
- All criteria for anorexia nervosa met but individual's weight is within the normal range or above.
- Chewing and spitting out large amounts of food and not swallowing it.
- Purging and/or other compensatory behaviours are present but not occurring at the strict frequency criteria of bulimia nervosa.
- Purging without bingeing.
Physical dangers/health consequences
Individuals with EDNOS are susceptible to any and all of the health risks that individuals with anorexia or bulimia are. For specific details, please refer to either the Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa pages.

It is important to stress that just because an individual is not markedly underweight does not mean that he or she isn't seriously ill or at risk of serious complications. Weight and appearance are not always reliable criteria on which to judge the severity of eating disorders.